Definition of sownext
1
as in to spray
to cover by or as if by scattering something over or on sow the fields with maize in early spring, and the crop should be ready by late summer

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2
as in to plant
to put or set into the ground to grow first sow the seeds in potting soil

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3
as in to breed
to set permanently in the consciousness or mind-set a malicious neighbor who sowed within him nagging suspicions about his wife

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sow At the earliest feasible time, sow grass seed over these patches to fill them in again. David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 16 July 2026 Trump administration officials are ramping up efforts to sow doubt about midterm election results. Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 13 July 2026 Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the new measures send a clear message to foreign adversaries seeking to sow violence. Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 13 July 2026 Soak the seeds in warm water overnight to soften them and speed up germination, and sow them directly into the soil to avoid disturbing the sensitive taproot. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 10 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for sow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sow
Verb
  • That’s a big reason to go slowly and think hard before spraying any insecticides in the garden.
    Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2026
  • How To Deep Clean Blinds To deep clean your blinds, San Angelo recommends taking them down and soaking them in a bathtub or spraying them with a hose outside.
    Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 18 July 2026
Verb
  • The only free Bowden is Anna, who could easily be charged for directing her sleazy father to plant drugs at Cady’s place.
    Scott Tobias, Vulture, 17 July 2026
  • Yet somehow, two decades later, the viciously antisemitic Vichy regime planted itself in power; a shocking betrayal by France of some of its most loyal and generous supporters, in a dehumanizing toxic swamp of suspicion, judgment, envy.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 July 2026
Verb
  • Members of the Purple City Genetics team teach passersby about the science and art of breeding marijuana, while providing advice to budding home growers and selling plant starts.
    Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 19 July 2026
  • Refreshing the water every day or two keeps it appealing for birds and helps discourage mosquitoes from breeding.
    Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 18 July 2026
Verb
  • Though there are monuments and memorials — sidewalk plaques, benches, murals — sprinkled around the globe, there appear to be very few Jackson statues permanently displayed in the United States.
    Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 17 July 2026
  • The reason gardeners sprinkle cayenne pepper in their yards is for pest control.
    Molly Burford, Southern Living, 17 July 2026
Verb
  • The democratization of Internet access with cheap smartphones and 5G has also regrettably seeded a CSAM wild west, whereby anyone with access to a child and dire financial problems can instantly solve their money woes.
    Charlie Campbell, Time, 20 July 2026
  • Without substantial outside contributions, the typical 530A account seeded with $1,000 is projected to be worth about $4,000 by the time a child reaches adulthood.
    Darrick Hamilton, Fortune, 16 July 2026
Verb
  • Lacy, who is famously fluid in his sexuality and laughs off any attempt to define it, peppers his songs with dreams of men and women, of wanting each yet leaving everyone.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026
  • The world’s already richest clubs pepper the top of the list — Barcelona, second four years ago, are also second in our estimate — which stands to reason given it is their players who are most likely to feature on the world stage.
    Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 21 July 2026
Verb
  • That’s despite a lot of effort companies such as Airbnb put in into enticing new hosts.
    Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026
  • For everyone’s peace of mind, robust security measures must be put in place to ensure that only genuine factory software can be installed and that hackers are locked out.
    Michael Harley, ArsTechnica, 21 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sow. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

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